Pipe bursts in Mendocino County's Public Health building

Clean-up and repairs are still underway at the building that houses Mendocino County's Public Health and Mental Health offices on South Dora Street after last week's flooding.

Stacey Cryer, the county's Director of Health and Human Services, said a water main burst Jan. 21 in the ceiling of the building at 1120 S. Dora Street. Since that day was Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, there were no staff members inside the building and the problem was not discovered until Tuesday morning.

At 7:09 a.m. Jan. 22, a caller reported that a "large hole was in the ceiling and (there was more than) two inches of water throughout the building."

Cryer said "50 percent of the building had standing water," and that staff members "jumped into gear to get (people) out of the building" and make sure that all "staff members and clients were safe."

With many rooms quarantined as carpets are removed and other repairs are made, Cryer said operations at the building that serves county residents seeking mental health services, aid such as Women, Infants & Children (WIC), immunizations or medical marijuana cards have definitely been affected.

However, Cryer described the staff as "remarkable" and "working around the clock with smiles on their faces.

"County workers get a bad rap," she continued. "But staff are working hard to get things moved around and set up. The primary goal is to find places were clients can be seen that are safe."

On Monday, only one entrance to the building was open and a security guard was standing outside. Cryer said 24-hour security was in place and she wanted to assure clients that their sensitive information is "safe and locked up."

Bryan Lowery, serving as interim director while Cryer has been out on medical leave, said the administration also wanted to apologize to the surrounding neighborhood for the noise caused by the work at the building.

Lowery said generators have been running to help dry out the building because the equipment needed creates too much of a strain on the electrical infrastructure.

Also on Monday, a sign at the entrance alerted clients that WIC services would not be available, but Lowery said a "temporary modular structure" should be set up for clients by today.

"(The building) looks different, but the services are the same," Cryer said.

Some employees have been relocated to Yokayo Elementary School or offices in Willits, but Lowery said "each site has a building coordinator" and employees are being kept informed via weekly "all-staff meetings" and via e-mail and postings on both websites and physical bulletin boards.

Cryer described the incident as a "catastrophe" that is being managed by the county's insurance company as "major damage to a major facility," and that an "industrial hygienist toured the facility and took samples ... to test for any hazardous materials prior to doing any structural work."

Cryer said updates on the test results will be released when available.

Justine Frederiksen can be reached at udjjf@ukiahdj.com, on Twitter @JustFrederiksen or at 468-3521.